Poland
Wielkopolska, Poland
Pilot support: ERDN
Challenges: Limited use of digital technologies in economic sectors and agriculture.;Educational system adaptation to employers’ expectations; Surface and groundwater deficit.
Strenghts: Increased competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of economy; Effective use of human capital; Counteracting climate change.
RRI needs: Transition from material-intensive economy to knowledge-based; Science-business cooperation; Integration of modern technologies in economic activities.
Barriers of SMEs /Industrial Actors: Poor use of ICT; Limited SME activities in international arena.
What shapes the food systems transformation in Poland?
- Participation in EU innovation programmes supports food system innovation
- Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies enable targeted agri-food innovation
- Inconsistent regulatory frameworks burden SMEs and family farmers
- Insufficient national policy incentives hinder sustainable food innovation
- EU structural and innovation funds support green agri-food innovation
- Growing sustainable finance and green investment help close funding gaps for food SMEs
- Limited access to venture capital constrains early-stage food-tech innovation
- High transition costs burden SMEs and slow adoption of sustainable practices
- Growing demand for organic and local foods supports sustainable consumption patterns
- Community-based knowledge sharing strengthens local food networks
- Low actual purchase behaviors limit demand for sustainable and plant-based food options
- Workforce skill gaps hinder the adoption of digital and precision farming tools
- Increasing investment in agri-tech startups supports digital food innovation
- Government support for smart farming enables resource-efficient agriculture
- Limited adoption of advanced technologies due to high costs
- Underdeveloped circular bioeconomy integration limits sustainability
What do the key actors say?
This section summarizes key insights on barriers and enablers identified by local
stakeholders representing civil society, industry, public authorities, and academia.
The insights are based on 6 qualitative interviews carried out during the initial
phase of the project.
CIVIL SOCIETY
- Fragmented governance limits the influence
of civil society (e.g. associations, NGOs etc.) - Administrative complexity constrains small
initiatives and communities - Growing demand for local, ethical food
supports sustainability initiatives - Informal networks and research links enable
knowledge sharing
INDUSTRY
- Policies enable innovation infrastructure, but
bureaucracy hinders long-term planning - Rising costs and reliance on foreign capital
constrain investment - Workforce shortages drive education–industry
partnerships - Digitalisation improves efficiency, but high
implementation costs remain
Academia research
- Funding supports research, but regulatory
instability limits long-term planning - Weak intermediaries and short funding cycles
hinder knowledge transfer - Co-creation and lifelong learning strengthen
collaboration, but capacity is limited - Living labs and open data enable innovation,
yet access remains uneven
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
- EU strategies provide direction, but compliance
burdens and centralised governance limit flexibility - Administrative complexity restricts SME access to
funding and slows innovation diffusion - Capacity shortages and fragmented stakeholder
engagement weaken implementation - Demonstration projects and peer learning support
adoption, but smaller actors lack skills and capital
Key reccomendations to accelerate the transition
Reduce regulatory complexity and policy
misalignment
→ Advocate clear EU–national guidance,
simplified certification, targeted SME support
Improve access to innovation finance for SMEs
→ Simplify funding schemes and advisory
support for food-tech and agri-food startups
Strengthen regional and place-based
coordination
→Support alignment between national policies,
Smart Specialisation, and local priorities
Invest in skills and capacity building
→ Provide training in digital agriculture,
precision farming, and sustainable practices
Accelerate digital and circular solutions
→ Join pilot projects and demonstration
initiatives for agri-tech and bioeconomy uptake